Fayssoux - Early (2008)

Fayssoux McLean’s beguiling voice was an integral element in some of the finest country music recordings of our time. She sang harmony (under the name Fayssoux Starling) all over the great early Emmylou Harris records “Luxury Liner,” “Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town,” “Elite Hotel,” and “Pieces of the Sky.” and had prominent duets with Emmylou on the songs “Spanish is a Loving Tongue” and “Green Rolling Hills.”

Given that Emmylou Harris is herself the greatest harmony vocalist in country music history, Fayssoux’s role as Emmylou’s harmony singer of choice should tell you nearly all you need to know. But also need to know is that Fayssoux possesses a stunning lead voice, one that she finally lets the world hear on her debut recording, EARLY.

For a while, it seemed as if that voice would never be properly heard and recorded, as Fayssoux dropped out of the music business in the 1970’s and ultimately became a teacher in her native South Carolina. But in 1996, a middle school teacher named Peter Cooper was writing a book about the extraordinary musical history of Spartanburg, South Carolina (Pink Anderson, The Marshall Tucker Band, Marshall Chapman, Hank Garland and numerous others hailed from the Hub City), and he found out that Fayssoux was living in Spartanburg. He wrote about her in the book, she sang at a book release party, and hundreds of unsuspecting listeners were instantly smitten.

Fast forward almost ten years: In Nashville, Cooper has become one of the country’s most respected music journalists, writing for the Tennessean newspaper. He is also singing, playing and producing, and he is aching to produce an album by Fayssoux. EARLY is that album. On it, you will hear a bit of role reversal, with Emmylou Harris contributing her spectacular harmonies for Fayssoux’s leads. EARLY also features such talent as Ricky Skaggs, the Whites, David Ball, and pedal steel legend Lloyd Green. Also featured on nearly every track is sublime young Spartanburg guitarist Brandon Turner.

This debut is a work of grace and beauty. Besides her own compositions (“Early,” “I Know It’s Over,”) Fayssoux interprets the work of old friends (and songwriting greats) Rodney Crowell and Paul Craft, and takes on songs her grandmother sang to her as a child. Traditional folk songs, old-time gospel, contemporary country-rock and love ballads… all are given the Fayssoux treatment and are the better for it

Fayssoux has one of those voices that was born to sing country music… a classic style of voice that allows her to sweep you away to the days of cowgirls and their lives, loves, and stories. What I absolutely love about EARLY is that it has the feel of those songs that you would expect to sing on the front porches of our homes across America. Simply a classic album!

Track List:

01 - The Blackest Crow (w Emmylou)
02 - Early (w Emmylou)
03 - Save It! Save It! (w Peter Cooper)
04 - I Know It's Over (w Emmylou)
05 - California Earthquake (w Peter Cooper)
06 - Amen Children (w The Whites)
07 - Bugler (w David Ball, Brandon Turner and Ricky Skaggs on mandolin)
08 - Walking Home In The Rain (w Peter Cooper and Lloyd Green on pedal steel)
09 - I Know How It Feels To Love (w Jo Lynn White)
10 - Miss The Mississippi And You
11 - Weepin' Mary (w The Whites)

Download includes front cover